MTFCA Forum

Soaking brass carburator floats, My dad had a formula years ago he got from a friend to clean brass floats
you soaked it for a few hours and it came out like new, someone over the years had thrown it away and I am wanting to know what means any of you have that might work
thank you, Bob
I have tried the ketchup
vinegar and salt
and other things on the web
nothing works
It had ammonia and some kind of soap and another chemical, but cant not figure it out

Try Tarn-X, sold in most grocery stores in the cleaner aisle for cleaning silver. Should only take a few minutes, not hours. Rinse well with water after use.

Actually, almost any mild acid would probably work, even lemon juice.

Get # BT-13 glass bead for your blast cabinet, turn the pressure down to 40psi, hold the nozzle about 8” away and quickly sweep it. They come out perfect.

Your dad may have used a clock cleaning solution which is a mixture of the following:

- Water
- Household amoninia
- Oleic acid (Murphy's Oil Soap)
- Acetone (optional)

The ratios of the above ingredients vary depending on who you talk to.

The reason why the float may not be getting clean in ammonia or salt and vinegar is any varnish needs to be removed with carb cleaner or lacquer thinner first.

Why would one want to soak a carburetor float? It cannot be seen while installed in the carburetor. Does it make the engine run smoother? I am not intending this to be sarcastic, just a question why? I have not done it, but if it makes the engine run better, maybe I should be doing it in the future.
Norm

Not sure what your trying to clean off tarnish or varnish
Found a couple of methods on the internet fir cleaning floats
Removing that 'green copper corrosion' is a two step process.
Dissolve salt in white vinegar, as much as it can take. Submerge part, should take only a few minutes to remove the patina and corrosion.
Then submerge the part in a water and baking soda solution for just a minute. This neutralizes the acids from the vinegar, so the part won't corrode.
Some tried CLR but manufacturer says it may take finish off and on some brass cause pitting.
Not so obvious Soldering Flux

Whatever you use is an acid so -- you still need to submerge in baking soda to neutralize the residue.

I was thinking the same thing as Norman but decided that he may be cleaning them to sell. ? I just glass bead them too.

I would say extra tarnish,dirt and what not is adding weight to the float which in theory could interfer with it's operation.

Thank you for all your replies, mainly we rebuild carbs and do not want to put a crappy looking float back in, Bob

Bob, any gunshop will have brass cleaner for you, it is used to clean spent (fired) cartridge cases before reloading, the main ingredient is phosforic acid, you just dunk the brass in it for a few minutes and it comes out bright and clean, it does not attack solder so should be quite safe for carb floats, be sure to rinse in warm water after.
Good luck